Are silk cards good for writing on?

Not really. Silk lamination gives a beautifully smooth, low-friction surface, but that same smoothness means ballpoint ink tends to smear or bead rather than dry.

• Standard silk-coated cards are a poor writing surface for pens.
• If you need a writable spot, such as an appointment date, leave that area uncoated.
• Alternatively, run a matte finish on one side and keep silk on the other.
• A dedicated permanent or gel pen can help, but an uncoated panel is the reliable fix.